CG schools police chief accused of DUI

GREENWOOD, Ind. (WISH) - The head of Center Grove Schools' police force admitted to his boss he was drunk when he got pulled over in a sobriety checkpoint early Saturday. John Cox, the schools' police chief, is now on unpaid leave and facing charges.

Center Grove Schools Superintendent Dr. Steven Stephanoff said Cox has handed over his badge and gun. Stephenoff added that he was disappointed to learn his police chief was in such trouble.

According to a police report, early Saturday morning, Officer Travis Wampler said he smelled alcohol and Cox's eyes were blood shot.

The report said Cox voluntarily took several field sobriety tests and failed them all. Later, at the Johnson County Jail, a certified breath test registered his alcohol level at .09.

Johnson County Prosecutor Brad Cooper said as many as 15 people face charges from that checkpoint.

"Worked with him on a couple of cases. I always found him to be a very reasonable, experienced police officer. But in the end, he's going to be treated just like anybody else that was stopped out there that night," said Cooper.

Superintendent Stephenoff said when Cox was hired two years ago, the interview committee knew Cox had been arrested for drunk driving in 1980, but Stephanoff said he was unaware of the record.

"If I had known it, I probably would have considered it. But I think I still would have hired him because he was the best man for the job when we did the interviews," he said.

School social worker Teresa Voorhees said Cox's arrest may be hard on students because the officer was well liked and respected.

"We really try to present forth in our personal lives as well as our professional lives things that would amplify what we want the students to do," she said.

The school district told Cox he would know by Friday whether he would be fired. The prosecutor said he will know sooner if charges will be filed.